Apparatus for supporting a patient in a prone position during diagnostic imaging

Abstract

A patient positioning apparatus to support a patient in a prone position on a patient table during a diagnostic imaging scan comprises a head support and an arm support. The head support is configured to extend above the patient table and supports a patient's head above a table top of the patient table while the patient lies on the patient table in a prone position. The arm support is joined to the head support and is configured to extend below the patient table to support a patient's forearms below the patient table.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates generally to apparatus for positioning a patient during a medical imaging procedure, and more particularly, to apparatus for positioning a patient in a prone position during a medical imaging procedure.[0002]Diagnostic images of a patient are acquired using one or more modalities, such as Nuclear Medicine (NM), Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance (MR), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), X-ray and Ultrasound. Some procedures for imaging anatomy, particularly within the torso, require the patient to lie prone on a patient table for a length of time without moving. In some cases, for example during nuclear imaging, an examination may last for an extended duration and thus patient comfort is advantageous. In other cases, such as during nuclear imaging, patient motion may create image artifact, degraded image quality or the necessity to repeat the data acquisition.[0003]The patient table is often narrow to allow the imagin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The patent describes a patient positioning apparatus that supports a patient in a prone position on a patient table during a diagnostic imaging scan. The apparatus includes a head support and an arm support. The head support is positioned above the patient table to support the patient's head, while the arm support is positioned below the patient table to support the patient's forearms. The apparatus also includes first and second legs that connect the head and arm supports and extend proximate the outer edges of the patient table. The technical effects of this apparatus include improved patient comfort, reduced risk of injury during the imaging scan, and improved image quality."

Problems solved by technology

In other cases, such as during nuclear imaging, patient motion may create image artifact, degraded image quality or the necessity to repeat the data acquisition.

These positions cause neck strain and patient motion, as well as potentially limiting the breathing space and contributing to feelings of claustrophobia in some patients.

Thus, the prone position is not ergonomic and can be difficult, uncomfortable, and / or painful to hold for the length of time necessary to acquire the scan, and patient movement may cause artifacts and blurring of the image.

In NM, this causes image quality degradation as image quality decreases with increased distance between the imaged organ and the detector.

Additionally, the arms may cause artifacts due to the absorption of photons in NM, PET and CT.

Images